It was 20-year-old Celebrity Century’s first and last voyage to India during its 800-odd cruises across global waters carrying honeymooners, holidaying couples, elderly people wanting to see the world during the winter of their lives and the odd, middle-aged lonely hearts.

Last voyage—because, in April it will change hands, and name. Royal Caribbean, its current owner, has sold the century-class cruise vessel to a Chinese travel company, Ctrip and it will move base to China. The new name will be: SkySea Golden Era.

The 71,545-tonne century-class ship with a capacity to carry 1814 passengers and 800-odd crew will be refurbished by the Chinese owner to provide updated premium services and more fun and entertainment. It had undergone a major refurbishment in 2006 that added 300-odd sea-view balconies to its passenger cabins and overhauled the bars, restaurants and entertainment spaces.

Celebrity Century docked in Kochi for two days from March 27 on its 14-day last voyage from Singapore to Dubai. The ports of call on the way include New Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai so that the guests get a taste of India.

`HASSLES AT INDIAN PORTS ‘

However, the ship’s crew complained to a visiting team of reporters that Emigration clearance for the guests at the Kochi port was cumbersome and took a lot of time. The guests, mostly elderly people, had to stand in queue under the hot March sky for a long time. Many major ports in the world had a cruise terminal to provide services to the luxury cruise liners and their guests, they noted. For instance, at the Singapore port, which received a large number of cruise ships year round, had excellent services and amenities for the cruise holidayers.

Unlike in India, where every port of call required Emigration clearance, the crew said, many countries had a one-time clearance that allowed the visitors to go on the shore and see the places around at all the ports in the country that the vessel visited.

Raffaele Bernardini, hotel director of the ship, pointed out that the demand for cruise holidaying was rising worldwide. The ship at sea helped people relax well and enjoy. Moreover, the cruise ships offered services which were often better than five-star hotels. These included swimming pools, theatres, dancing floors, gyms, spas, sports and a lot of fun and entertainment possibilities. There was a wide variety of eating options too.

Elderly people and honeymooners were a major segment of the clientele. Pensioners could afford the time as many cruises were of long durations which working people could not afford often. For honeymooners the cruise ship offers a lot comfortable privacy - for instance, on Celebrity Century, more than 300 cabins were equipped with sea-looking balconies.

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